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Thursday, April 21, 2016

The Rector by Michael Hicks Thompson Proves to be Fun, Fabulous Murder Mystery!

If you are wondering what this is...well, I'll have to tell you because I'm not good at taking selfies! Anyway, this is the only part I could pick up--it's part of the apron that was sent along with the book, The Rector... It seems that it's always worn by Martha, the main character...and I needed to wear it while I was reading the book to get the full effect of this woman...LOL

Just kidding about my wearing it while I read...but it was fun to receive as a bonus!

!!!

"It's true, Martha. He died of a massive heart attack," the coroner told me. "My assistant was her during the autopsy. The little twit must've run out and told everybody in town."Word spreads fast in Solo, Mississippi.Our rector, Pastor David Baddour, was found slumped over his plate at Charlie's Place in Greenlee, thirty miles north.Mighty young to die of heart failure, I thought....I was in my newspaper office the next morning, ready to write Pastor Baddour's obituary when Oneeda Mae Harpole strolled in. She was my friend and Solo's busiest gossip.She plopped down in my creaky guest chair and proceeded to stare at me--her usual way of letting me know she wanted to talk. I paused to learn what gossip or opinion she'd brought.She leaned so close I could smell her Juicy Fruit gum. "Martha, I hope you're not writing some puff-pastry story about the preacher. You should tell the truth. Father Baddour was seeing a married woman.""What? We don't have any facts, Oneeda. Only rumors.""Remember? Betty told us in Bible study. She saw him go into that Alamo Motel with some woman." Oneeda reminded me."And you trust everything Betty says?...

~~~

The Rector:A Christian Murder Mystery

By Michael Hicks Thompson

I'm smiling because I can see it right now--there will be comments that "this is not a Christian" book since there are clearly sinners as characters... It's sad to add my endorsement that in the many small-town churches (and I'm sure larger ones too), you will always find individuals who have gone against God's word... So, please, do take the opportunity to enjoy this book without prejudice... Admit it, we are all sinners saved by God's grace...

And one of the ways we can look at ourselves and see some of the things we should think about is reading what can happen inside the church walls! So laugh, have fun with the story, and enjoy how God may see us--and strive to improve--it's my guess that is the reason the author wrote the book...

If you remember, and liked the Father Dowling Mysteries in the early 90s, then prepare to similarly enjoy the fun and mystery solving done then, only now with the setting of the Episcopal Church...

I asked God to put my heart in the rightplace. Is my determination to bring apossible killer to justice more importantthat risking...As if my prayer was answered on the spota thought materialized something.Pastor Davidson had said in a recentsermon: "A true preacher is merely thedelivery for God's word. In fact, we're alldelivery boys. Me. You. Every one of us...That's me. That's who I am. The mailmanfor Solo, A delivery boy. Maybe I'mmeant to deliver Pastor Baddour'smurderer and let God fulfill His promise:"For those who love God all things worktogether for good, for those who arecalled according to his purpose." Hetakes care of his children...After thatreassuring thought, I fell asleep.***I should've stayed awake all night.~~~

Martha had grown closer to the Rector than many of his congregation. When he had first come to town, he had been sent to her for lodging. They had seen each other every day, she had fixed his meals and sometimes ate with him. When she learned that he'd died, she immediately felt that it had not been natural.She had been right... And, if necessary, she would work to find out what really happened to him... Now she's not just interested as a friend, since she also runs the local newspaper agency--which, of course, required her to have details of what was happening in their small town.

But there was a woman in their Bible Study that could indeed have become involved with the Rector. In fact, she had shared her story years ago and revealed to the church women there that she had run away from home at 15 and had gone into prostitution...After confessioning, the women had all become closer--but that didn't stop the gossip that was rampant inside and outside the church.

An interesting side plot was the problem that arose since the pulpit now had to be filled again. Not earlier considering that possibility, they had appointed a man, a beekeeper and farmer who normally looked and acted as just what he was. Suddenly he was not a man to be sent to talk to the church hierarchy...espectially according to the man who led the administrative group of the church... But with a little manipulation by Martha, his position was upheld and he began his job to find a replacement. The first response was that there was a shortage of available pastors and the church would have to wait...But within a short time, a man showed up at Martha's door to find a place to stay, introducing himself as Father Thomas Cain who suggested they call him preacher since that was part of his background and he immediately started so many different things that the church filled every Sunday. Let's just say that problems began to happen and JJ, the man who had been responsible for obtaining the Rector publicly spoke out against what was happening... But the Rector had quickly become close with the head of the Board and JJ was ignored.Until, JJ, too, was murdered...Martha wanted to exhume Father Baddour to confirm how he died, but in the meantime, she began to discover many who could have been involved. For instance, there was the mailman who steamed open everybody's mail but, who, even Martha herself used, when it was discovered that mail was not being delivered to the correct town members, all from the church. I'll stop there and merely add that this book is very much character driven and each individual has that strong feel of a small-town member...in a small-town church...It's hard not to enjoy the humor of the situation just as much as the murder mystery. Martha is a strong character who presents a few flaws when her obsession in solving the crimes became paramount. And it is gratifying to watch the evolution of the church and its members as everything occurred within their town and congregation. This is one of those books that I want to just keep telling you about all the great situations, plots and sub-plots that have been provided. Not only is that telling too much, but the story line becomes so complex--with concurrent and intertwined situations which keeps readers guessing what is going to happen next--that you can't easily break issues out.

Michael Hicks Thompson was birthed in his mother’s own bed. His family lived so far out on a farm in the woop woop, hospitals weren’t an option. A mid-wife was there with a bowl of hot water–so he was told. The family moved into the tiny town of Bentonia (Yazoo County) when Michael was five, youngest of four boys.

Being raised in such a small Mississippi town (population, 210), he claims to know a thing or two about strong southern women, alcoholic men, and quirky characters. I suppose that’s why he ran as fast as he could … to the South’s wildest party school at the time, Ole Miss. Only by the grace of God is he still alive … 23 broken bones from fights, football, and a couple of major Harley massages. He laid her down in the mountains of North Carolina. Not a pretty picture. Eight bones broke that time.

Marriage and grad school at the University of South Carolina for a masters’ degree in mass communication settled him down. (He claims God settled him down when He changed his heart forever.)

Michael moved to Memphis and started a one-man ad agency at age 27. The firm, Thompson & Company, grew to 87 employees in two cities—Memphis and Nashville. He was CEO / creative director / copywriter for over 30 years. The agency won more than its fair share of national and international booty for creativity. Michael sold the firm in 2011.

Novel writing started as a hobby, along with oil painting. He wrote, art directed, and published two graphic novels on the life of David from the Old Testament—DAVID—The Illustrated Novel *. Michael couldn’t figure out why God said David was a man after his own heart. So he wrote about it. Successfully.

Volume 2 won first place BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL and BEST INTERIOR DESIGN, 2012, from THE INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS. Volume 1 won 2nd Best Graphic Novel of 2011 from the Independent Publisher Book Awards.

A novella received finalists awards in the Beverly Hills Book Awards and Clarion’s Mystery & Mayhem. In 2011 Michael penned a sci-fi thriller (JALA) that was serialized in a monthly magazine for an entire year. He’s re-writing and looking for a publisher or movie producer for this thriller.

Michael is a licensed sailboat captain (having sailed most of the Caribbean Islands many times) and scuba diver. He’s a Kairos team member (prison ministry); been to Cuba twice on door-to-door evangelism mission trips; been a featured speaker at large (500+) conventions; taught night classes at Memphis College of Art; and Sunday School for college/career singles. He’s an honorary deputy sheriff in Mississippi and Tennessee, and licensed to carry a concealed weapon.

He was King of Carnival Memphis in 1997. Michael is still in the business world as Board Chairman of a Mississippi Delta manufacturing company. (I know most of this minutia only because he made me include it.)

While he was fretting over his writing The Parchman Preacher, I told him, “You wrote advertising copy for thirty years! Holy dooly, man, you’ve been writing fiction for three decades!”

Now he really does write fiction—Christian novels that entertain, intrigue, and shine a light on his Jesus. (Who knows? Maybe one day Michael will convince me about this Jesus of his.)

I think he’s most proud of their three grown sons—all of them born-again Christians; two wonderful daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. Oh, I should’ve mentioned … he’s been married to the same fantastic lady (and my dear friend) for forty-three years. She’s a bigwig in the Garden Club of America. Tempe Adams Thompson. Michael’s proud of her.

His four years in Oxford were wasted. And I don’t think he cared much for the great works of Faulkner. Evidently, Michael spent more time drinking cheap wine on Faulkner’s grave under full moon nights than reading the genius of the literary giant. The bloke lived directly across from Faulkner’s headstone.

Neither does Michael The Storyteller like the ‘filler’ in most of today’s mystery books: “Too many paragraphs upon paragraphs of superfluous character and setting detail. I ‘d rather keep my reader on a fast pace. There’s a certain amount of ‘backstory’ needed in the beginning, but no author wants his reader to put the book down until The End.”

Michael enrolled in two Media Bistro Master Novel Writing courses out of NYC. Caitlin Alexander, former editor with Random for eleven years, was the instructor. She edited his first mystery. He’s a member of the ACFW, Mystery Writers of America, The International Crime Writers Association, the Southern Writers Association, and more than I’m willing to include.

I do believe Michael should’ve been born next door to me, in Sydney. He has our down-under sense of humor, winner take all attitude. He really is the dinky-di from woop woop who learned how to spin a yarn as good as gold.

Well now … I’m pretty sick of writing about Michael. I’d rather write about his wife, Tempe, or me, for that matter; but he says there’s no more space. Rubbish.

I’m David Weekes, an Aussie ad man from Sydney and good friend of my good friend Michael. You can email me, david@loud.com.au. I can answer any question you have about me. Hooroo.

* BTW, you shouldn’t miss the pic of Michael with Goliath and the ark of the covenant on his site.

The crazy bloke had these life-size replicas made for a book signing tour. How ridiculous is that? I warn you … be careful. He’s dangerous.

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Here's BRH Feedback--Cool!

6/17 Just saw your review on Amazon and then visited your site. Holy Smoke! As usual, I was amazed at what a fabulous job you did, reviewing the book and adding in all that related material. I was particularly thrilled that you included the book trailer I put on Utube. You adding it to your review made me very happy. In fact, I had a big smile on my face the whole time I looked at what you'd done. I even listened to the violin concerto and watched the video of Dog Hill. Every year it gets harder and harder to bring a new book to the attention of potential readers. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have you as an ally in that endeavor. Thank you so much for all you do for me and for other writers. There's no-one else like you. And that's no exaggeration.With profound gratitude, I remain, Your Friend, Don

Thank you. Your commitment to your craft is wonderful. Whether it's one star or 5, your reviews are detailed, considerate, and most of all, beneficial to the prospective reader.

What an amazing presentation. Stellar. I never expected anything like that.

Do you have a separate link that I can share? I'd love to post this everywhere I can. You did such a fabulous job.cheers Connie

Thank you so much for your glowing review of my new book. Your review really highlighted all the things that I try to incorporate in my books - they're the very things I want as a reader. I'm nearly finished writing the next book in the series - Walker and Munoz are back, and interestingly as you referenced in your review, this time it's personal. Again, thank you.

I'd read your amazing review before I looked at my Facebook page and was blessed. Hitting the link you posted, I was surprised for few would have gone to so much trouble, fewer still know that Lauren Bacall (born Betty Joan Perske) was Sephardic and bequeathed a large amount of primary source information about the Sephardim to a university, which I was able to view online when corroborating Naomi's story. Your review stands as one of the highlights of this profoundly dyslectic authors’ life. Thank & bless you heart emoticon

I thought I'd reach out to you for your heartfelt review on my novel. It was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes that someone was so moved by my tale... That it resonated that deeply with someone. Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone. Signed...

Wow, this is the most awesome blog post I've ever seen. Thank you for writing it! grin emoticon

I was thrilled with the details you offered in my review - like a literary movie trailer built on suspense and intrigue. I'm glad you're still reviewing books by aspiring authors like me. We need people like you! Keep up the good work and maintain that passion, Glenda!

Words fail me. Hi Glenda, I visited your review website today and was thrilled to see your marvelous features relating to Ms. Cramer's book. I passed them along to the author, and she is very excited and deeply grateful for your attention.

Your review of the book is wonderfully anecdotal and insightful, and it will be helpful I believe as an introduction to readers approaching Ms. Cramer's work for the first time. I found the opening of the review to be quite touching, with a wonderful sense of personal experience that I believe is all too often missing in critical review publication. In the context of the article, your remembrances from childhood add a truly beautiful layer to the photopoem you present.We're very impressed by what you put together using the press kit materials, and we will do our best to provide exposure for your features through our mailing list and other avenues.I do look forward to reading your articles in the future.We appreciate your considering our book and thank you very much for your fine and generous review coverage,

Saw the review and treatment of THE BLOOD BETRAYAL on your site. Once again, you've amazed me with what you do. Fantastic, fabulous… No, those words aren't good enough to describe your work and you.

I wrote up a short piece about what you did, directing people to your site from mine. That was really interesting and something I've never seen anyone do before. Great job, and I'm glad you enjoyed the novel.

Yo my truly heartfelt thank you for your very generous and kind review! I appreciate very much the time and effort you put into this review for me, and your so graciously posting it in multiple locations.

Your blogsite is extremely professional and well-done! What you posted for me there has completely blown me away!

Thank you again very much for such a comprehensive and thoroughly entertaining review. It's one of the best reviews I have received and I'm very proud to have it. Most Gratefully,

Glenda, You review blew my mind. When I listened to the songs you inserted, they brought tears to my eyes. You added a dimension to my work that was missing. In the attachment I have attempted to answer your question about anger. Thank you so much for your raving review. There are no words in the English language to express the gratitude I feel for you. I wish you a wonderful and blessed day.

I've been sitting in my chair for nearly fifteen minutes, stuck in an infinite loop of visual digestion and stunned amazement because of what you put together on your site for The Doppler Affect review. The time alone that you put into crafting the page is humbling, but the creativity and flair adds a layer I've never seen in reviews. Of course, the frosting of your very positive evaluation makes it the best cake I've eaten yet! I was also amazed at how you could step away from any biases due to your preferred genre and frame it for others...thank you. My newest book, Patriot's Point, will be released imminently. The publisher wants to know if I knew of any one in particular who has blogs or review sites that I would want to use. I immediately thought of you. Thanks, Doug

Glenda, I am truly in awe of your reviews and your review style. I have never seen anyone do a review as you can do one. I was entertained, informed, enlightened and amazed. There should be awards for creative, insightful and captivating reviews -- and you should be a recipient. Thanks for reviewing my book. And thanks for giving it an aura and image and feel that only your review could give it. I am very appreciative. All the best, Patrick

During the period of time that you requested my story, I also had other blog sites asking for the book as well. I had received three eviews prior to yours, and although I am very happy to report that all three were positive and enthusiastic, your entire presentation of the book, from the actual commentary to the ambitious visuals, blew me away and has left me emotionally weak-kneed in gratitude. I am extremely touched by all that you had to say and how you visually presented the concept of the book. Please note that I will place your website on the book's Facebook page which will hopefully bring your blog site more readership. Again, please know how grateful I am for your emotionally thrilling review. You have certainly made my day, Glenda! With much appreciation, Author/The Poe Consequence

I wanted to make sure I got a chance to properly thank you for posting the wonderful review of The Medici Boy! It was terrific, not just because you like the book (thank you) but because your analysis was thoughtful and honest. You put your heart into it, (Photos were out of this world) and you wrote like a friend would (we think that’s the very best kind of review). I appreciate your time and passion for literature! We’ve been promoting the site, since you went live, and we’re going to continue to promote your site on Social Media throughout the month. Senior Publicist Blue Dot Literary

Dear Glenda, I have to start this response with a BIG WOW! I have been very gratified with my experience as a new writer for both my books now and am working on a third. However, your review is like nothing I've ever seen, and I consider it a great piece of writing and creativity in itself. Thank you so very much for your kind words and treatment of Millstone. Once again, thank you for this review. I plan to pass it on in every venue available to me. My best wishes to you JackH

Thank you so much for your glowing review of my new book. Your review really highlighted all the things that I try to incorporate in my books - they're the very things I want as a reader. I'm nearly finished writing the next book in the series - Walker and Munoz are back, and interestingly as you referenced in your review, this time it's personal. Again, thank you.

I'd read your amazing review before I looked at my Facebook page and was blessed. Hitting the link you posted, I was surprised for few would have gone to so much trouble, fewer still know that Lauren Bacall (born Betty Joan Perske) was Sephardic and bequeathed a large amount of primary source information about the Sephardim to a university, which I was able to view online when corroborating Naomi's story. Your review stands as one of the highlights of this profoundly dyslectic authors’ life. Thank & bless you heart emoticon

I thought I'd reach out to you for your heartfelt review on my novel. It was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes that someone was so moved by my tale... That it resonated that deeply with someone. Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone. Signed...

JAFV I am stunned...

Wow, this is the most awesome blog post I've ever seen. Thank you for writing it! grin emoticon

I was thrilled with the details you offered in my review - like a literary movie trailer built on suspense and intrigue. I'm glad you're still reviewing books by aspiring authors like me. We need people like you! Keep up the good work and maintain that passion, Glenda!

Words fail me.

Hi Glenda, I visited your review website today and was thrilled to see your marvelous features relating to Ms. Cramer's book. I passed them along to the author, and she is very excited and deeply grateful for your attention.

Your review of the book is wonderfully anecdotal and insightful, and it will be helpful I believe as an introduction to readers approaching Ms. Cramer's work for the first time. I found the opening of the review to be quite touching, with a wonderful sense of personal experience that I believe is all too often missing in critical review publication. In the context of the article, your remembrances from childhood add a truly beautiful layer to the photopoem you present.We're very impressed by what you put together using the press kit materials, and we will do our best to provide exposure for your features through our mailing list and other avenues.I do look forward to reading your articles in the future.We appreciate your considering our book and thank you very much for your fine and generous review coverage,

Saw the review and treatment of THE BLOOD BETRAYAL on your site. Once again, you've amazed me with what you do. Fantastic, fabulous… No, those words aren't good enough to describe your work and you.

I wrote up a short piece about what you did, directing people to your site from mine. That was really interesting and something I've never seen anyone do before. Great job, and I'm glad you enjoyed the novel.

..my truly heartfelt thank you for your very generous and kind review! I appreciate very much the time and effort you put into this review for me, and your so graciously posting it in multiple locations.

Your blogsite is extremely professional and well-done! What you posted for me there has completely blown me away!

Thank you again very much for such a comprehensive and thoroughly entertaining review. It's one of the best reviews I have received and I'm very proud to have it. Most Gratefully,

You review blew my mind. When I listened to the songs you inserted, they brought tears to my eyes. You added a dimension to my work that was missing. In the attachment I have attempted to answer your question about anger. Thank you so much for your raving review. There are no words in the English language to express the gratitude I feel for you. I wish you a wonderful and blessed day. James Womack

WOW! What a beautiful post you did for ALMOST PERFECT ON YOUR I can’t imagine how much time you must have taken to create some thing so imaginative and special. I feel truly humbled and touched and quite unequal to saying how much it meant to me. A real present. You must be a very special person. I wish you were my neighbor and we could have a real chat over coffee. Maybe someday. But meanwhile know how wonderful your work made me feel and buoyed to keep on keeping on! Diane

I wanted to make sure I got a chance to properly thank you for posting the wonderful review of The Medici Boy! It was terrific, not just because you like the book (thank you) but because your analysis was thoughtful and honest. You put your heart into it, (Photos were out of this world) and you wrote like a friend would (we think that’s the very best kind of review). I appreciate your time and passion for literature! We’ve been promoting the site, since you went live, and we’re going to continue to promote your site on Social Media throughout the month. Senior Publicist Blue Dot Literary